negligent implies inattention to one's duty or business.
negligent about writing a note of thanks
neglectful adds a more disapproving implication of laziness or deliberate inattention.
a society callously neglectful of the poor
lax implies a blameworthy lack of strictness, severity, or precision.
a reporter lax about accurate quotation
slack implies want of due or necessary diligence or care.
slack workmanship
remiss implies blameworthy carelessness shown in slackness, forgetfulness, or neglect.
had been remiss in their familial duties
Examples of remiss in a Sentence
It would be remiss of me if I did not share with you the vital role God has played in my recovery.—Jennifer Howard, Undoing Time, 2001But if we do not address these complexities in the public arena, and in ways that are spatially theoretically grounded, we will be remiss in carrying out our scholarly and civic responsibilities.—Saul B. Cohen, Annals of the Association of American Geographers, December 1991"Well, Sally, I'm in fault, and I acknowledge it; I've been remiss; but I won't let tomorrow go by without stopping up them holes."—Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, 1885
I would be remiss if I didn't tell you how much I appreciated the lovely gift.
Recent Examples on the WebWhile the Orioles would be remiss not to consider bullpen help at the trade deadline, the current group has emerged as a sudden strength.—Matt Weyrich, Baltimore Sun, 17 May 2024 But Panthers coach Paul Maurice would have been remiss if not to single out Forsling’s performance.—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 18 May 2024 While November may seem quite a ways away, the U.S. general election is quickly approaching, and employers would be remiss to ignore how the tense political climate could impact the workplace.—Paige McGlauflin, Fortune, 4 Mar. 2024 Fans of Thomas Ligotti and lovers of nihilistic noir would be remiss to skip this dark gem.—Gabino Iglesias, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2023 See all Example Sentences for remiss
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'remiss.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English remisse, borrowed from Latin remissus "relaxed, free from constraint, casual, lenient," from past participle of remittere "to send back, release, relax, ease off" — more at remit entry 1
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